{"id":190,"date":"2024-07-15T16:32:36","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T16:32:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/?page_id=190"},"modified":"2026-06-24T01:06:09","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T01:06:09","slug":"p541","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.mtsu.edu\/policies\/p541\/","title":{"rendered":"541 \u00a0Residential Life and Housing Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Approved by\u00a0Board of Trustees<\/strong>
Effective Date: May 7, 2026
Responsible Division: Student Affairs<\/strong>
Responsible Office:\u00a0Dean of Students’ Office<\/strong>
Responsible Officer:\u00a0Dean of Students through University Discipline and Rules Committee<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I. Purpose<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A student residence facility is a densely populated community composed of students with many different interests, habits, and tastes. Â鶹ÊÓƵ (MTSU or University) is committed to the concept that on-campus student residence facilities should provide an atmosphere conducive to both living and learning where, in a spirit of cooperation and consideration for others, students may live, study, and relax together. This policy provides rules to establish and maintain that atmosphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

II. Definitions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Assigned Living Space. The personal dwelling unit of a student and\/or occupant residing within a student residence facility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Guest(s). Any person invited by a student resident, occupant, or the University to visit in a student residence facility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. License Agreement (Agreement). The contract document setting forth the terms of occupancy of any student residence facility\/unit as between the University and student residents that occupy any such student residence facility\/unit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Premises. Any student residence facility owned or operated by the University to provide housing accommodations for student residents.  <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Prepayment Fee. A payment required by the University to secure assigned living space within a student residence facility prior to taking occupancy of a particular assigned living space. The prepayment fee is applied toward housing costs except where forfeitures apply.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Semester Fee. The payment required to occupy an assigned living space within a student residence facility for a specified term.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Student(s). For the purposes of this policy, student refers to the individual officially enrolled and residing on premises in an assigned living space who is a signatory to the License Agreement. The student(s) may also be referred to as resident(s).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    III<\/strong>. Eligibility<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Full-time students officially admitted and enrolled at the University for the Fall or Spring semester shall be eligible to reside in a student residence facility during their period of enrollment. Part-time students are not eligible to reside in student residence facilities unless a waiver is provided by the Director of Housing and Residential Life. Such waivers shall be granted on a case-by-case basis. Students who drop below full-time enrollment during the academic year should not assume they will be released from the obligations of their Agreement. Student residence facilities may be leased\/licensed to other persons in connection with programs and activities on campus at the discretion of the University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    All students, with the exception of students who are prohibited by federal or state law from residing in student residence facilities for any reason, shall have an equal opportunity to reside in student residence facilities regardless of race, color, religion, creed, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity\/expression, familial status, age or disability, provided that separate student residential facilities may be established on the basis of sex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Summer housing is available to MTSU students enrolled in summer courses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    No person who is registered or required to register as a sex offender pursuant to the Tennessee Sexual Offender and Violent Sexual Offender Registration, Verification and Tracking Act of 2004, as amended, T.C.A. \u00a7\u00a7 40-39-201, et. seq., shall be eligible to reside in any on-campus student residence facility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    IV. Application Process<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Application Process and Fees. Students must make application for permission to reside in a student residence facility by returning a completed application signed by the student and, as applicable, the student\u2019s parent\/guardian or student\u2019s spouse. A completed application, including the required signatures, indicates acceptance of the terms and conditions contained in the Agreement. The completed application shall be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the signed Agreement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    At the time of application, the student must also submit a prepayment fee. Semester fees are due and must be paid during the fee payment period at the beginning of the term. Fees are subject to change each year. See Housing Rates<\/a> for Fall\/Spring or Spring Only or contact Housing and Residential Life (Housing) at 615-898-2971 or by email to housing@mtsu.edu<\/a> for additional information and current fee rates.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The prepayment fee is refundable prior to first check-in date according to the schedule included in the Student Housing License Agreement and Section V below. All cancellations must be submitted in writing to Housing and Residential Life, MTSU Box 6, Murfreesboro, TN 37132 or by email to\u00a0housing@mtsu.edu<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Mandatory Board Plan for Freshmen. Students classified as freshmen are required to purchase an approved board plan option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Required Immunizations. All new incoming students who live on campus are required to provide proof of adequate immunization against Meningococcal disease after their 16th<\/sup> birthday and within the last five (5) years. Some exemptions exist for students who provide the appropriate medical or religious exemption form to Student Health Services. New incoming students living in on-campus housing will not have the option of refusing this immunization without providing Student Health Services with appropriately executed medical or religious exemptions. To ensure compliance, students are eligible for housing assignment contingent on proof of adequate immunization against Meningococcal disease. This means a housing application will be accepted but a living space cannot be assigned until vaccination against the Meningococcal disease is confirmed by MTSU Student Health Services. For more information on all required immunizations, see Health Services website<\/a>.    <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    V. Student Housing License Agreement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The Agreement contains applicable provisions regarding prepayment, cancellations, and refunds. Students are responsible for compliance with each provision and term of the Agreement and this policy. A copy of the Agreement may be found at www.mtsu.edu\/housing<\/a>. Prospective students should request a copy of the agreement from Housing and Residential Life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The term of an Agreement is for the full academic year (Fall and Spring semesters). The student who enrolls in the University for the Fall semester and who signs an Agreement agrees to reside in a student residence facility for both the Fall semester and the Spring semester provided they enroll in the University during both semesters. Agreements entered into any time after the first (1st<\/sup>) day of the Fall semester or Spring semester continue in effect until the close of the academic year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Students must check out of their student residence facility within twenty-four (24) hours of withdrawing from the University or failing to enroll in classes at the University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Assignment\/Subletting. No student shall assign the license to use any assigned living space within a student residence facility or sublet any assigned living space within the student residence facility. Any attempted assignment shall be void without the written consent of the University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cancellation of the Agreement; Refunds. The student or University may cancel the Agreement under the circumstances indicated below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Prior to the beginning of the Term.\n
        \n
      1. If the student completes the application process and is assigned a living space but does not enroll in classes for Fall and\/or Spring term and fails to properly check in prior to the first day of classes for any given term, University may cancel the Agreement. The student will be considered a no-show subject to forfeiture of their prepayment amount. In cases between terms where the student\u2019s personal items have been stored as an accommodation during a non-contract period, student will be subject to forfeiture of their prepayment as well as storage fees and associated costs for removal of personal belongings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Prepayment fee refunds. The amount of any refund of the prepayment fee is made based on the cancellation postmark date, the date a confirmed cancellation email was sent, or the date of hand delivery of the written notice of cancellation. The schedule for refunds, including dates and amounts is specified in the Agreement.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. During the Term of the Agreement. The Agreement may be cancelled consistent with the criteria identified below:\n
          \n
        1. If the student officially withdraws from the University and has complied with check-out procedures, University may cancel the Agreement for the remaining portion of the term. If the student enrolls for Spring term, the Agreement will be reinstated and appropriate charges will be assessed to student\u2019s account.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        2. If the student does not plan to enroll for the Spring term and notifies University in writing, the Agreement will terminate on the day of the student\u2019s last Fall term exam or graduation date, if the student is among those scheduled, in advance, to graduate and not scheduled to return to the University in a student status. If the student enrolls for Spring term, the Agreement will be reinstated and appropriate charges will be assessed to student\u2019s account.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        3. Students who participate in an off-campus academic experience may be eligible for release from the Agreement provided the experience requires the student\u2019s regular and\/or continued presence at a location significantly distant from the campus so as to constitute an undue hardship on the student, to be determined at the discretion of University. If termination is granted, the Agreement will terminate on the day of the student\u2019s last fall term exam or graduation date, if the student is among those scheduled, in advance, to graduate. Students seeking this option must petition for such relief by submitting, prior to November 15, a License Agreement Cancellation Request form outlining the academic experience. The student will be required to provide supportive documentation from the college and\/or internship site or assignment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        4. In the event the assigned living space is destroyed or otherwise rendered uninhabitable and University does not provide alternative assigned living space, the Agreement will be cancelled and housing fees will be refunded on a prorated basis.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        5. Prepayment fee refunds. In addition to circumstances set forth above, a refund of prepayment fees may be made under the following conditions:
          \n
            \n
          1. Fall Residents Not Enrolling for the Spring Term. The prepayment fee may be refunded as specified below provided the student has appropriate prepayment on file. The amount of any refund of the prepayment fee is made based on the cancellation postmark date, the date a confirmed cancellation email was sent, or the date of hand delivery of the written notice of cancellation. The schedule for refunds, including dates and amounts of such refund, is specified in the Agreement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          2. A full prepayment refund is available under the following conditions:\n